Isoleucine Enhanced the Function of the Small Intestinal Mucosal Barrier in Weaned Piglets to Alleviate Rotavirus Infection
Rongkun Zhao,
Changsheng Jiang,
Yuchen Yuan,
Shen Zhang,
Ahmed H. Ghonaim,
Chuanyan Che,
Xiaojin Li,
Mengmeng Jin,
Erhui Jin,
Xiangfang Zeng,
Shenghe Li,
Man Ren
Affiliations
Rongkun Zhao
Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Regulation and Health, College of Animal Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang 233100, China
Changsheng Jiang
Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Regulation and Health, College of Animal Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang 233100, China
Yuchen Yuan
Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Regulation and Health, College of Animal Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang 233100, China
Shen Zhang
Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Regulation and Health, College of Animal Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang 233100, China
Ahmed H. Ghonaim
National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
Chuanyan Che
Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Regulation and Health, College of Animal Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang 233100, China
Xiaojin Li
Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Regulation and Health, College of Animal Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang 233100, China
Mengmeng Jin
Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Regulation and Health, College of Animal Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang 233100, China
Erhui Jin
Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Regulation and Health, College of Animal Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang 233100, China
Xiangfang Zeng
State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Shenghe Li
Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Regulation and Health, College of Animal Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang 233100, China
Man Ren
Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Regulation and Health, College of Animal Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang 233100, China
Background: Rotavirus (RV) is a major cause of diarrhea in young children and animals, especially piglets, leading to substantial economic losses in the global pig industry. Isoleucine (Ile), a branched-chain amino acid, plays an important role in regulating nutrient metabolism and has been shown to improve diarrhea. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Ile supplementation on the mucosal immune barrier of the small intestine in RV-infected weaned piglets. Methods: Forty-eight 21-day-old weaned piglets were randomly divided into three dietary treatments (each treatment was subdivided into two groups, eight replicates per group), with 0%, 0.5%, or 1% Ile added for 15 days, and then, one group from each treatment was challenged with RV. Results: The results showed that 1% Ile added to the diet promoted the healthy development of the intestinal mucosa. Ile could restore the reduced villus height in the ileum and the goblet cell number in the duodenum and ileum to normal levels, improving the intestinal epithelial tight junctions in RV-infected piglets. Additionally, Ile increased the activity of lipase, amylase, and sucrase, as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH), along with the expression of SIgA, DEFβ1, and DEFβ2 in parts of the small intestine. Conclusions: The addition of Ile to the diet mitigated the effects of RV infection on intestinal morphology and mucosal barrier function, as well as the physiological functions of weaned piglets, and improved the antioxidant and immune functions of the piglets to some extent. These findings offer valuable insights, contributing to a deeper understanding of the role of Ile in supporting intestinal health.
